Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Another Fix for Intermittent Speedometer

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 27, 2011 | 03:44 PM
  #1  
MCT's Avatar
MCT
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 86
Likes: 2
From: Springfield, IL
Default Another Fix for Intermittent Speedometer

My 2001 Road King Classic just started having an intermittent speedometer of late.

I spent today checking plugs under the console, (found the pink tach wire not pushed all the way into the Deutsch plug), and went to check the grounds under the seat. I had already pulled the sensor a few days ago and cleaned it off but it only worked for awhile, (now I know why).

I decided to check the sensor wire from the plug under the seat to the sensor. That is when I found the wire had been rubbing on a sharp corner of the oil dipstick/oil housing. From the sensor the wire went under the starter and then went around the housing then up through a bundled wire set that is zip-tied to the frame. From there it went up through a plastic loom and up to the plug under the seat area.

The rub-through occurred a few inches form the sensor and had just barely worn through the rather thick wire bundle cover. It had barely nicked, I could hardly see it, one of the wires. That is why it worked for a short time after I had moved the wire slightly while cleaning the sensor. It then fell back into the same spot it had been for the last ten years and continued to periodically short against the dipstick/oil housing. I split the wire bundle cover and checked with an ohmmeter, and that is when I confirmed the wire was laying slightly bare and had been grounding out.

Hope this helps someone who has had a similar problem.
 
Reply
Old Jul 27, 2011 | 05:46 PM
  #2  
im's Avatar
im
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 6,081
Likes: 1,127
From:
Default

wow, good job. little things like that can make you scratch your head for days.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
wattey1947
Touring Models
7
Jun 13, 2018 01:12 PM
Jimmy Todd
Touring Models
1
Sep 27, 2016 06:59 PM
02 heritage
Electrical/Lighting/Alarm
3
Sep 10, 2014 09:31 PM
dusturbd
General Harley Davidson Chat
0
Nov 17, 2013 12:23 PM
Geezer Glide Bob
Ignition/Tuner/ECM/Fuel Injection
11
Sep 4, 2007 01:43 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:48 AM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE